Slide Show: What the Festival Through the Eyes of Gregory Gourdet
June 24, 2015
On the road
Headed toward Dufur at midday on Sunday—the final full day for the fourth annual What the Festival at Wolf Run Ranch.
No red meat + beef
The recent Top Chef runner-up is a well-known health nut (no red meat); he's got no beef, though, with car-mate BJ Smith, chef-owner of SE Portland BBQ palace Smokehouse Tavern. "We've been to this festival every year since it opened," Gregory says. "It'
View from pool
Just one quirky touch at this highly-rated festival: during the daytime, WTF's massive wading pools (right on the other side of this people-perimeter) cool heels at the foot of one stage. "There's this rebellious feeling of being part of a secret society
Watch it buddy!
Gregory did not wade. "I was going to get in in the pool, but it got a little overcast, and I was like, what will I do with my phone? I got splashed a lot, though."
Almost a unicorn
Earth art, installations, and canvases scattered far back into the woods of WTF's "Illuminated Forest." Gregory particularly liked this oil painting from Portland artist Dane Eisenbart: "I thought it evoked a lot of the feelings of living in this magic l
Glamping
Are you noticing Gregory's fancy-pants accessories? From a fossilized shark's tooth necklace to a crushed abalone pendant, he gets much of his gear from Benjamin Posin (right), co-owner of Pearl District retailer Sticks and Stones Accessories.
Pizza Hat
Sunday night's stages light up, with San Francisco DJ Justin Martin rocking his trademark headgear. "I was here specifically for the music," Gregory says. "I've seen these guys around the world: in the Bahamas and music festivals here and in LA."
The OMG Stage
At nightfall, music lovers trekking through the forest to the OMG Stage caught last sight of Mt Hood's east face rising above the stage lights.
2 am
"Everything was still going strong, but the Dragon Stage is where I tapped out," Gregory says. Seven hours later, he and BJ hit the road back to Portland, zapped. "Yesterday I almost died at work. Today, I'm more human."
Backstage Pizza
"I'm friends with the engineer of that particular stage," says Gregory, explaining how he got this backstage shot. "It's nice to be able to connect with the artists. Their summers are hectic, so this is a nice break from the more urban shows: more peacef
A flock of Dirtybirds
By 10 pm, Gregory says, those who'd been at the ranch for all four nights were getting pretty tired. Not this fresh crew: Greg poses with friends Mikal Brucken (left), Patrick Soto (center in blue shirt)—of solar-powered shaved ice vendor So Cold PDX—and
